Snow Canyon State Park Petrified Sand Dunes

Snow Canyon State Park Petrified Sand Dunes is an amazing place to explore. The landscape is STUNNING and it was the perfect place for our kids to climb all over (pretty sure they might be part mountain goat).

The vivid sandstone is beautiful and it is a fun challenge to climb along the rocks. This amazing State Park is located just northeast of St. George in southern Utah.

We recommend that you make this one of your stops as you make your way through Snow Canyon. You do not want to miss out on this natural wonder!

Keep reading for everything you need to know before you explore these petrified sand dunes in Utah.

Petrified Sand Dunes

The Petrified Sand Dunes jut up from the flat, barren landscape in Snow Canyon State Park. The sandstone is a vibrant orange against the dark mountains in the distance.

The ripples in the sandstone make perfect little stairs to climb up and explore. Sandstone is soft and erodes easily, so there are also many pockets and holes to play in.

The Petrified Sand Dunes are not to be confused with the Sand Dunes at Snow Canyon State Park. The Sand Dunes are a large area of red sand.

The Sand Dunes are a popular place for families to stop and let their children play in the sand. If you visit, you can see large umbrellas dotting the area and marking where people are enjoying the seemingly endless sea of sand.

Snow Canyon State Park

Snow Canyon State Park is a natural gem in the southwestern corner of Utah, just a short drive from St. George. This 7,400-acre park is known for its beautiful landscapes of red rock canyons, towering sandstone cliffs, and a striking contrast of white Navajo sandstone formations.

With its unique rock formations and remarkable views, Snow Canyon State Park has become a popular destination for hikers, rock climbers, and families trying to escape the cold up north.

Snow Canyon was named after early pioneers, Erastus and Lorenzo Snow. Over the years, the land was used for ranching and agriculture.

In 1958, Snow Canyon was designated as a Utah State Park, preserving its natural beauty and making it accessible for visitors to explore, learn about its history, and enjoy its outdoor recreational opportunities. It opened to the public as a state park in 1962 and has been impressing visitors ever since.

Hiking in Snow Canyon State Park

Snow Canyon State Park is a designated trail park, meaning you need to stay on the trails, but on the Petrified Sand Dunes, the trails are a little bit harder to follow.

We enjoyed climbing and exploring the orange rock in the Petrified Sand Dunes in Snow Canyon. We even found some pockets eroded into the rock that were big enough for the kids to play in.

Make sure to watch the weather so you can be prepared for whatever you will encounter. The whole area is completely exposed unless you find a small eroded area to take shelter in.

How to Get to the Petrified Sand Dunes by St. George, Utah

Snow Canyon State Park is located northeast of St. George. Follow Bluff Street north out of St. George. Stay on it as it turns into UT-18 and it will take you straight up to the north entrance.

There are a few different ways that you can explore the Snow Canyon State Park Petrified Sand Dunes.

Petrified Sand Dunes via Butterfly Trailhead

The first way to explore the Petrified Sand Dunes is by parking at the Butterfly Trailhead. This is 1.2 miles south along Snow Canyon Drive from the North Entrance Station. If you are heading north from the South Entrance Station, it is 2.7 miles.

Petrified Sand Dunes via Lava Flow Trailhead

The second way to get there is to park at the Lava Flow Trailhead and hike to the Petrified Sand Dunes. This is just 0.7 miles from the North Entrance Station and 3.1 miles north of the South Entrance Station.

When our family went, we hiked the Lava Flow Trail and explored the Lava Tubes. You can see the Sand Dunes from the 3rd lava tube.

Our original plan was to hike the Lava Tubes and then drive to the Butterfly Trailhead to explore the Snow Canyon Petrified Sand Dunes, but we just kept on exploring because the kids were interested and we were right there.

Cost of Visiting Snow Canyon State Park Petrified Sand Dunes

We have a Utah State Park Pass, so we were able to show our pass at the entrance station and got our map for the park.

If you do not have a State Park Pass, you will have to pay the entrance fee. For information on the current entrance fee, visit the State Park website.

Parking for Snow Canyon State Park Petrified Sand Dunes

There are two parking lots that you can use to reach the Petrified Sand Dunes.

Butterfly Trailhead Parking Lot

The first option is parking at Butterfly Trailhead. This is a paved parking lot with about 20 parking spots.

There are no bathrooms at this parking lot, so be prepared. The closest bathrooms are 0.2 miles south at Upper Galoot Parking Lot. These are vault toilets (make sure to bring hand sanitizer or wet wipes because they were out when we went).

You can see the Sand Dunes from the parking lot, and it is just a short walk until you can climb up the Petrified Sand.

Lava Flow Trailhead

At the Lava Flow Trailhead is a large paved parking lot with spaces for about 30 cars.

There is not a bathroom at this parking lot, so make sure to take care of that before parking. The closest bathrooms are the vault toilets at Upper Galoot Parking Lot. These are vault toilets and you will want to make sure to bring sanitizer or wet wipes just in case they are out.

Accessibility

This is not an area that is accessible for wheels. The trail is sandy and occasionally has sharp black volcanic rock. Once you reach the Petrified Sand Dunes, there are a lot of uneven rocks to climb up.

Best Time to Visit the Snow Canyon Petrified Sand Dunes

The weather in Snow Canyon State Park is typical of southwestern Utah deserts and the park experiences a wide range of temperatures throughout the year.

Summers are hot and dry, with daytime highs frequently getting above 100°, making it very important for families to stay well-hydrated and use hats and sunscreen.

Spring and fall are considered the most pleasant times to visit, with comfortable daytime temperatures and milder evenings. In addition, if conditions are right, the park is full of wildflowers, making the park even more stunning.

Winters are milder, with daytime temperatures in the 50s and 60s, though it can still get quite cold at night. This is important to keep in mind if you will be camping in the state park.

Our family visited Snow Canyon in January and it was perfect. The weather was in the 60s and it was ideal for exploring the area.

Snow Canyon State Park Petrified Sand Dunes

The Petrified Sand Dunes stretch over ¾ of a mile and measure about ⅓ of a mile wide.

The sandstone rises steeply out of the flat desert floor and can be a bit challenging to climb if you have big feet. Our kids didn’t have any issues climbing all over, but the narrow ridges in the sandstone were a little bit trickier for us adults to navigate.

The sandstone is steep, but due to its natural roughness, it provides excellent traction for climbing.

Petrified Sand Dunes via Lava Tubes

There are two ways to get to the Petrified Sand Dunes. If you come from the Lava Tubes, you will first encounter a mound of sandstone that is smaller than the main attraction. However, it is large enough for families to explore and have a good time.

You can choose to make your way over to the main outcropping of sandstone, or if you have had your fill, you can head back to your car. The good news is that you can just explore from the Lava Tunnels and not feel like you have missed out on anything.

Petrified Sand Dunes via Butterfly Trailhead

If you choose to get to the Petrified Sand Dunes via the parking lot at the Butterfly Trailhead, you can see the large mountain of red-orange rock from your car.

It is a short walk from the parking lot to get to the Petrified Sand Dunes. Once there, you can explore the large mountain of sandstone. If you wish to explore the smaller hill of sandstone, you can follow the Butterfly Trail north and west.

What to Pack

It is very important to take plenty of water with you, especially in the summer. We took our water pack with us so we could have our hands free for climbing around.

Don’t forget sunscreen and hats to protect you from the sun. It is also very important to wear sturdy shoes to help with climbing on the sandstone.

Is Snow Canyon State Park Petrified Sand Dunes Worth Visiting?

 Absolutely! We loved climbing around and exploring. The view is stunning in all directions. It is also amazing to see all of the shapes and patterns eroded into the sandstone.

Recreate Responsibly

Please remember to recreate responsibly so that other people can enjoy it after you. Be respectful to the nature you come in contact with and stay on the designated trails. Take only pictures and memories, leave only footprints.

Explore Close By

• Snow Canyon Lava Tubes
• Jenny’s Canyon
• Pioneer Names
• Scout Cave
• St. George
• Gunlock State Park
• Quail Creek State Park
• Sand Hollow State Park
• Pioneer Park
• Thunder Junction All Abilities Park
• Zion National Park
• St. George Dinosaur Discovery Site at Johnson Farm
• Red Cliffs National Conservation Area
• Kanarra Falls